Introduction: About Nomfundo

Please briefly tell us about yourself. Kindly expand on the general industry you are in, what your specific interest is within this industry, and what a typical work day looks like for you.

I am Medical Doctor/General Practitioner, currently working at the Eswatini National Referral Hospital (Mbabane Government Hospital) and I work under the Department of Internal Medicine. However, due different systems and processes at the Hospital, I also serve on rotation in other stations such as the Outpatient Department, normally under Family Medicine, the Emergency Department or the Renal Unit.

My normal day usually starts in the morning at the work station I am needed in. I work until 5pm and this sometimes extends into the night if I am “on call,” which goes until 8am the next day.

What or who motivated you to go into this line of work?

What motivated me to go into Medicine is my inherent desire to give back; to help people. When I was a child, I used to think of myself as having the power to help people get back to life. Pursuing Medicine also aligned with my desire to grow my skills in a great job, to afford myself a better life than the one I grew up in.

Preparation & Experience

What major concentrations/specialisations can one explore in your discipline? In your opinion, which specialisation is the most difficult to get into?

A critical first step is to complete the undergraduate MBBCh degree. Depending on where you completed your undergraduate studies, Internship/Community Service follows. After this phase, one can then apply to specialise in the many specialities that are available in Medicine. There isn’t any speciality that I would say is really hard to get into – it just depends on a person’s interests, passion, and strengths.

How was your transition from school/university into the workplace/applying your skills? Please share resources/strategies that have been useful for you.

My transition from high school to university was interesting. I had to adjust to the new environment, and being exposed to a different culture/society is always an interesting experience. Then there is also adjusting to the academics, teaching style and how the academic department structures their examinations.

With this said, learning when to ask for help was a useful strategy for me, because the experience can get really overwhelming. For example, most universities have the Office of Student Support, which is the resource that I used throughout Medical School. This Office helped me significantly with preparations for most assessments. Once you are better prepared, you can then plan your time effectively, ensuring that in addition to studies, you also allocate time for fun and rest.

Do you think that a person who is interested in exploring their “side-hustle” should seek formal training for it and why?

Side hustles can be a good source of income and when done well, they can grow into your primary source of income. I think it all depends on passion. Even so, it’s always a good idea to seek help and equip yourself with the relevant knowledge. It is important to learn how from other peoples’ successes and failures. This can be useful for preventing unnecessary pitfalls and forces you to think about how you plan to do things differently. If you ask, you will find that most people are happy to share their experiences and help you.

Personal

Who is your local or international inspiration or a person you look up to and why?

I don’t really have someone I would call a role model. I admire certain qualities from different kinds of people. I learn and take what I think is good from them or basically anyone I come across, meet or learn about. I think focusing on becoming a better version of myself is what works for me. This looks like being more self-aware, acknowledging areas where I need to improve, and leveraging my strengths. Learning never stops.

What has been the greatest challenge and reward in your career so far? 

The greatest challenge currently is limited opportunities. It can take long for young, recent graduates in Medicine to get absorbed into the system to gain experience through their Internship. After the Internship, they could also enter another waiting period before getting a permanent job. And once you have a job, these young Doctors have to think about going back to school to specialise, which also comes with financial challenges. However, it’s not completely impossible. There are people currently in school and studying their specialisation – it’s just important to sensitise young people about some of the challenges that exist.

My greatest reward is that I get to do what I love! It’s the best feeling. I get to serve my country, my people and give back. Receiving words of encouragement from our patients when they express how happy and grateful they are, is truly humbling.

Looking Ahead

In your view, what does the future hold for your field in Eswatini?

I would like to believe things will definitely improve in areas such as better quality resources and more specialists serving the nation.

What is your wish for young people in Eswatini?

Do what you love, apply yourself, work hard, think outside the box, have self-discipline, and take healthy risks. I hope that with time, there will be more places that offer financial support for young people to be greater versions of themselves in all the different fields.